Dreams of Gods & Monsters

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Goodreads Summary:

By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael’s brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz … something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

There was a lot going on in this book, and I don’t know if it was all good. The first part of it backtracked into the Epilogue of the second book, which I was a bit confused about at first, but ended up really enjoying. I did not however, like the new character Eliza. I actually kind of hated her, not because of her personally, but because it took forever to figure out why she was significant and she would bust into the story – with pretty boring little side notes – and interrupt major relationship/battle/climactic events. Once we finally figure out who she is, I was still like “ok? I get why this is helpful, but I still don’t understand why we had to deal with her interruptions the whole time.” I think the message could have been provided without having to have her in the story, she felt frivolous to me.

I’m glad that Karou and Akiva finally get back together, and even though it’s a pretty slow rekindling, it makes sense. I mean, they are in the middle of a war here, it’s not like they have time for a long conversation to hash out details and nights alone to reforge their bond. But it worked, and both of them worked better once they had figured out the details between themselves.

Honestly, the best part of this book was Ziri and how he dealt with being in the wolfs body. It was really interesting to see how he changed the wolf, and it showed how smart and capable he was. I also liked he and Liraz’s developing relationship – my wish from the second book with came true!

The deal with the Stelians also kind of got on my nerves. Taylor just introduced so many new things into the last book, I thought it got a bit muddled at times. Though, we finally get to see where Akiva is from and whatnot, I just wish there had been some more foreshadowing/information in the second book, it was all still pretty vague then.

Then we have the angles in the human world seeking weapons, the discovery of Karou’s chimera hideout and its corpses, Zuze and Mik (who I really like), stupid Razgut, and this thing with the doorways between the worlds and the monsters that threaten to destroy Eratz and then move on to Earth. There is just so much!

Overall, I liked it, but the second one was my favorite. The ending was satisfactory, it wasn’t the happiest it could have been, but it fit the story and didn’t leave me wanting. It did seem to set up for a spin off series though, and I’m not sure I will invest in those, I enjoyed these books, but I didn’t love them.